New restaurant opens in Columbus

Published: Friday, July 5, 2013 at 6:32 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, July 5, 2013 at 6:32 a.m.

For nearly a decade, the Overholt name has been synonymous with Polk County sports. Pat and Trish Overholt's children — Derrick, Krista, Andre and now Kara — have been star athletes for the Wolverines and have garnered lots of attention.

The Overholts are getting a different kind of attention now.

In May, Pat and Trish Overholt opened Southern Manners, a new restaurant in Columbus. The restaurant, which is open from 6:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., specializes in the kind of Southern cooking you might find in your grandmother's kitchen.

Trish Overholt is the primary chef, and her menu is simple.

“I cook what I make for our family,” she said. That's what this restaurant is.”

The menu for breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, bacon, biscuits, gravy and other traditional items. One of the more popular menu items is Overholt's made-from-scratch cinnamon buns.

The lunch menu includes fried chicken, burgers, fries, deli sandwiches, chicken fingers and other items. Aside from the prepared menu items, the restaurant also is equipped with a deli counter. Patrons can come in and buy deli meats and cheeses to take home.

The restaurant has been a dream of the couple's for a long time. Trish Overholt worked in restaurants as a teenager. But once she married, she became a stay-at-home mom. The last of her four children, Kara, is a student at Polk County High School.

The timing for the restaurant was right, Pat Overholt said.

Trish Overholt began cooking pregame meals for the Wolverine football team while her son, Andre, was quarterback. Those meals were a big success.

“We say we have the best pregame meal in America,” Polk County football coach Bruce Ollis said.

Ollis and his youngest son, Jordan, were the first two customers when the doors opened at Southern Manners on May 11.

“It was something we wanted to do,” Ollis said. “We were excited to be there first.”

Ollis coached both of their sons on the Wolverine football team.

And the restaurant has turned into a family affair. The elder Overholts man the kitchen. Krista Bontrager handles the counter and the money. Andre Overholt handles the food expediting and the deli counter. Kara Overholt runs food out to the patrons. Derrick Overholt came up with the name and gives input on business-related issues. Derrick's wife, Sasha, also helps in the kitchen.

Pat Overholt said he wanted everybody to pitch in.

Southern Manners isn't just about dining. Along with the deli counter, the restaurant offers catering for weddings and showers, and it is open for sports banquets and similar events.

“We're pretty diversified with what we're doing,” Pat Overholt said.

The only problem for now is finding more seats for customers. That's something the Overholts are grateful for, Pat Overholt said, and it's faith in their purpose that will keep them going.

“We feel like God has brought us here, and He'll keep us going,” he said.

<p>For nearly a decade, the Overholt name has been synonymous with Polk County sports. Pat and Trish Overholt's children — Derrick, Krista, Andre and now Kara — have been star athletes for the Wolverines and have garnered lots of attention.</p><p>The Overholts are getting a different kind of attention now.</p><p>In May, Pat and Trish Overholt opened Southern Manners, a new restaurant in Columbus. The restaurant, which is open from 6:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., specializes in the kind of Southern cooking you might find in your grandmother's kitchen.</p><p>Trish Overholt is the primary chef, and her menu is simple.</p><p>“I cook what I make for our family,” she said. That's what this restaurant is.”</p><p>The menu for breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, bacon, biscuits, gravy and other traditional items. One of the more popular menu items is Overholt's made-from-scratch cinnamon buns.</p><p>The lunch menu includes fried chicken, burgers, fries, deli sandwiches, chicken fingers and other items. Aside from the prepared menu items, the restaurant also is equipped with a deli counter. Patrons can come in and buy deli meats and cheeses to take home.</p><p>The restaurant has been a dream of the couple's for a long time. Trish Overholt worked in restaurants as a teenager. But once she married, she became a stay-at-home mom. The last of her four children, Kara, is a student at Polk County High School.</p><p>The timing for the restaurant was right, Pat Overholt said.</p><p>Trish Overholt began cooking pregame meals for the Wolverine football team while her son, Andre, was quarterback. Those meals were a big success.</p><p>“We say we have the best pregame meal in America,” Polk County football coach Bruce Ollis said.</p><p>Ollis and his youngest son, Jordan, were the first two customers when the doors opened at Southern Manners on May 11.</p><p>“It was something we wanted to do,” Ollis said. “We were excited to be there first.”</p><p>Ollis coached both of their sons on the Wolverine football team. </p><p>And the restaurant has turned into a family affair. The elder Overholts man the kitchen. Krista Bontrager handles the counter and the money. Andre Overholt handles the food expediting and the deli counter. Kara Overholt runs food out to the patrons. Derrick Overholt came up with the name and gives input on business-related issues. Derrick's wife, Sasha, also helps in the kitchen. </p><p>Pat Overholt said he wanted everybody to pitch in. </p><p>Southern Manners isn't just about dining. Along with the deli counter, the restaurant offers catering for weddings and showers, and it is open for sports banquets and similar events. </p><p>“We're pretty diversified with what we're doing,” Pat Overholt said. </p><p>The only problem for now is finding more seats for customers. That's something the Overholts are grateful for, Pat Overholt said, and it's faith in their purpose that will keep them going. </p><p>“We feel like God has brought us here, and He'll keep us going,” he said. </p><p>Reach Millwood at 828-6947881 or at joey.millwood@blueridgenow.com.</p>